site.btaBulgarian, Serbian Defence Ministers Discuss Interaction in Case of Stronger Migration Pressure

Bulgarian, Serbian Defence Ministers Discuss Interaction in Case of Stronger Migration Pressure

Nis, March 23 (BTA special correspondent Asen Boyadjiev) - Defence ministers Nikolay Nenchev of Bulgaria and Zoran Djordjevic of Serbia planned measures for interaction in case of stronger migration pressure and in countering illegal migrant trafficking.

At a working meeting in Nis on Wednesday, Nenchev told his Serbian counterpart that Bulgarian troops could participate in protecting the Bulgarian border with Serbia. Nenchev told journalists he had assured Djordjevic that the troops would only help the Interior Ministry and would not do anything else around the border.

Nenchev, who has already met with his Macedonian and Romanian counterparts, said the meeting in Nis was part of that series of visits. He will also meet with his Greek counterpart and will talk with the Turkish defence minister during a joint government meeting in mid-April.

Asked if Djordjevic said that Serbia would send back migrants if they started transiting Bulgaria, Nenchev said: "We have not talked about this." He added that they agreed to exchange information, to do their best to prevent this from happening, to cooperate in every single area and to register anyone who attempts entry into Bulgaria at the border checkpoints.

Asked if troops would be sent to protect the border if migrants invaded Bulgaria from Greece, Nenchev said the authorities were ready to react within a few hours.

Eight manoeuvres with Serbia have been planned this year, said Nenchev, adding that the sides had agreed to strengthen cooperation in health care, education and military training.